Method and means for attaching spongy material to backings or holders



March 14, 1939. s. P. VAUGHN METHOD AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SPONGY MATERIAL TO BACKINGS OR HOLDERS Filed Nov. 25, 1956 INVENTOR BY I A9: R Whiz W fiwf/x ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 14, 1939 4 METHOD AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SPONGY MATERIAL T BACKINGS OR HOLDERS Sidney P. Vaughn, San Diego, Calif. Application November 25, 1936, Serial No. 112,786

'8 Claims. (01. 300-21) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to cleaning devices gento be understood that this shape may be varied to erally, but has special reference to a novel methsuit requirements.

0d and means for attaching cleaning material, The backing for the sponge block is indicated for example, cellulose sponge or analogous comin Figures 1 and 2 by the numeral 2 and is shown 5 pressible material to a holder or backing. as Comprising an elong metal plate f slightly A further object of the invention resides in the less length and breadth than the sponge block I. provision of a method for securing backs to clean- The plate 2 is formed with a continuous, substaning material at reduced cost, and which method tially right angula flange Skirt 3 j ed to e provides for ease of assembly and yet produces Plate portion of the backing y the areuate D a neat and attractive article. tion 4. 10

Another object of the invention consists in pro- The backing member 2 is preferably secured to viding a method of adhesively securing compresthe sp material y means 0f ce u s e sible material to a backing in an expeditious hesive or other waterproof adherent, and in order manner and in which method the backs are exo produce a firm a permanent n ec o posed to the atmosphere so as to permit rapid between these parts a plate 5 is mounted in the 15 evaporation of the moisture in the adhesive as backing- Th pl e is sh wn as formed of sheet well as the escape of fumes. metal provided with perforations 6, but it is to A still further object of the invention consists be'understood that wire mesh or other foramiin adhesively attaching compressible material to nous sheet material may be employede p a backing in such manner that the article, such fOIated Plate is preferably shaped to substantially 513 as a mop, may be boiled and otherwise cleaned the cross-sectional shape 0f the backing 2 and and disinfected without breaking down the con- Preferably has its end and e edges pp by nection between the sponge and its backing. a mp Portion 7 formed 0 e fla e 3- Another object of the invention resides in the when a Sheet metal plate is e p yed s the inprovision of a simple and inexpensive method of e o g member for the Waterproof a hesive, 2.] attaching compressible cleaning mater-m1 t indicated by numeral 8, it is desirable that the backing f the fountain b ush t plate be spaced slightly from the backing so as to oth objects d advantages of t n facilitate passage of the adhesive through-the tion will be apparent from the following descripperforatiohs- If Wire mesh is e p y owever tion when taken in connection with the accomthis spacing of the parts becomes s po tant he panying drawing, in which, inasmuch as the adhesive can more readily pass Figure 1 is a perspective View partly in section, around the wires forming the interstices.

of two of the articles clamped together during n assembling h k n d m p ma rial the drying or setting process. the adhesive 8 is placed in the backings as indi- Figure 2 is a transverse Sectional View of a cated in Figure 2 and the sponge block is placed .3.) backing and sponge element in inverted position on the flanges 3 with the latter evenly p ed before being pressed together and indicating in from the edges of he lock; or if preferred the dotted lines a second assembly adapted to be backs may be inverted d placed on top of the compressed against the lower one as indicated in Sponge block since the adhesive is fairly Viscous- 40 Figure The assembled elements are then placed in pairs -iU Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of a as indlcated in dotted lines in Figure slightly modified form of backing and method of and Pressed together as to bring the Sponge attaching the same to a block of sponge material, material Contact t p1ate.5 andwith and the adheslve in those areas c1rcumscr1bed by the Figure 4 is a sectional View through a further flanges 3. The pair of articles are held in their modification of mop in which cleaning fluid such gg zfig ig g g i fa gg g gg gg 21, 5 g gs? as water 15 adapted be fed to the Sponge paired articles and have its ends secured by adt r u t handlehesive or otherwise. When compressed as indi- Referrmg to the drawmg greater detall and cated in Figure 1 the flanges 3 become embedded bu p ti y t0 Figures 1 and h numeral I in the sponge material and thus provide a seal des gnates an elong d block of Sponge material which prevents the escape of the adhesive from such as cellulose sponge his mate al, Wh c the interior of the backing. This manner of forms the working part of the mop, is shown as clamping the articles avoids completely inclosing substantially rectangular in cross-section but it is the sponge material'and provides for free circu- 55 lation of air through the pores of the sponge to facilitate evaporation of moisture in the adhesive.

Some of the adhesive passes through the perforations 6 of plate 5, or through the interstices of the fabric, if wire wesh is used, and when it sets serves to securely and permanently lock the sponge to the backing. Such a connection is not affected by hot water or the like, and hence the mops as thus constructed may be boiled if desired without damage.

In Figure 3 the block of sponge material I is shown as connected to a backing ID in a somewhat different manner. In this form of the invention the backing H], which may be formed of wood or metal, is provided with a roughened surface i I at the base of the flanges it. The adhesive is applied to the recessed portion of the backing as in the form previously described, and the backing is then applied to the upper or lower surface of the sponge block l;

After the sponge and backing are brought into contact a rigid plate I 3 of wood or the like is placed against the opposite face of the sponge and the members it) and is pressed toward each other sufficiently to bring the surface of the sponge into contact with the adhesive and the roughened surface it of the backing. A band 9, similar to that shown in Figure 1, is then passed around the compressed members and its ends brought together and secured in any desired manner. The sponge is thus held tightly against ,the roughened surface ll until such time as the adhesive sets, and it is to be noted that the roughened surface greatly enhances the strength of the connection between the two parts.

In assembling and securing the backing and sponge block, either in the manner depicited in and a roughened inner surface 22. The backing 20 is provided with a central flanged opening 23 in which is mounted a tubular member 24 provided with a perforated inner end 25, and with threads 26 on its outer end for the reception of a hollow handle or hose connection.

The sponge block and backing of Figure 4 are assembled and held in compressed condition in the manner indicated in connection with either of the forms heretofore described. It should be mentioned however that the perforated end 25 of tube 26 is spaced inwardly of surface 22 a distance at least as great as the height of flanges 2i. By thus proportioning the parts it will be apparent that any liability of the adhesive entering the perforations of cap 25 is avoided.

From the foregoing description and the at-- tached drawing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have devised an extremely simple and inexpensive means and method for permanently attaching backings to sponge material or other cleaning material; that the resulting product is neat and attractive in appearance; that the assembled parts are firmly held in compressed condition until the adhesive sets and are so held as to permit free circulation of air to expedite the setting of the adhesive;

and that the invention is adapted to mops of the fountain brush type as well as other types.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described what I now consider to be preferred embodiments of the invention, but various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What I claim is:

1. The method of adhesively securing spongy material to a backing which comprises mounting a sheet of foraminous material in spaced relation to the backing, interposing adhesive material between the spongy material and sheet, and pressing the spongy material and backing together so that the adhesive is caused to pass in part through the openings in the foraminous sheet and become interlocked therewith.

2. The method of adhesively securing spongy material to a backing which comprises securing a sheet of foraminous material in a backing having walls to retain the adhesive, placing adhesive material on the sheet, pressing the spongy material against the foraminous sheet and the walls of the backing so that the part within the walls contacts the adhesive and forces a portion thereof into and about the foraminous sheet and the part resting against the walls functions as a seal to prevent the escape of the adhesive.

3. A cleaning unit comprising a flanged backing, a sheet of foraminous material anchored in said backing, adhesive in the backing in contact with the foraminous sheet, and spongy material having a compressed portion in the backing in contact with the adhesive and foraminous sheet, whereby portions of the adhesive are caused to interlock with the sheet.

4. A cleaning unit comprising a flanged backing, a perforated strip of sheet metal anchored in the backing, adhesive in the backing in contact with the perforated strip, and spongy material having a compressed portion in the backing in contact with the adhesive and perforated strip,

whereby portions of the adhesive are caused to interlock with the sheet.

5. A cleaning unit comprising a flanged backing, a sheet of foraminous material anchored in the backing in spaced relation to the base thereof, adhesive in the backing in contact with the foraminous sheet, and spongy material having a compressed portion in the backing in contact with the adhesive and foraminous sheet, whereby portions of the adhesive are caused to interlock with the sheet.

6. A cleaning unit comprising a substantially dish-shaped backing, a sheet of foraminous material in the backing and substantially co-extensive therewith, means on the backing for gripping the edge of said sheet, adhesive in the backing in contact with the foraminous material, and a block of spongy material having a compressed portion in the backing in contact with the adhesive and foraminous sheet, whereby portions of the adhesive are caused to interlock with the sheet.

7. A cleaning unit of the fountain brush type comprising a flanged backing having a central aperture therein, a tube mounted in said aperture, an apertured closure on the inner end of said tube, said closure being spaced from the bottom of the backing a distance at least as great as the height of the backing flange, adhesive in the'backing, and a block of cleaning material having a portion pressed into contact with the adhesive and backing.

8. A cleaning unit comprising a flanged backing, a sheet of foraminous material in the backing, the free edge of the flange being doubled the latter in position, adhesive in the backing in contact with the foraminous sheet, and spongy material having a compressed portion in the backing in contact with the adhesive and foraminous sheet, whereby portions of the adhesive are caused to interlock with the sheet.

SIDNEY P. VAUGHN.

over the edge of theioraminous inaterial to secure Patent No. 2,150,196 Grant/ed March 14, 1939 SIDNEY I. VAUGHN The above entitled patent was extended October 2, 1951, under the provisions of the Act of June 30, 1950, for 7 years and 174 days from the expiration of the original term thereof.

Commissioner of Patents. 

